For the past year and a half, I’ve been exploring the octave ukulele, a unique instrument that has brought me great joy. An octave ukulele is essentially a baritone ukulele fitted with octave strings. While you can’t yet buy one in stores, its rich, deep tone reminds me of a viola—quite different from the high-pitched sound typically associated with ukuleles. My setup cost $149 for the amplifier-ready instrument, $25 for the strings (available from Starlight Ukes), and $15 for professional string installation.

I’ve documented my octave uke journey on two websites: Octave Ukes and Dylan on Ukes.

During my successful liver transplant surgery last year, I brought my octave uke to the hospital and created several YouTube music videos from my bed. You can watch my favorite recording here. I hope to see octave ukes become widely available in stores and online—they could offer an accessible, affordable entry point into music-making for both young people and adults.

As a maker, I find endless joy in exploring this instrument’s capabilities. For guitar players seeking a new musical dimension, the octave uke offers an exciting opportunity. You can learn the basics in under 20 minutes, and you might find yourself eager to play first thing every morning.

-- Phil Shapiro 04/22/25